SOME of the world’s best marathoners, including 28 champions from Kenya, Ethiopia, Erithrea, Morocco and Norway, among others, will join their Nigerian counterparts in this weekend’s Okpekpe Road Race, the organisers have revealed.

The Okpekpe Road Race is the only IAAF labeled marathon in Africa and coming to the Edo State town this year are four Ethiopians, including Debele Worknesh Degete, an IAAF Bronze Medalist; Deriba Merge, a former 15-kilometer World record holder; Amane Gobena, 2014 Los Angeles Marathon Champion and Mesret Gonfa, who won the 2015 Oromia Region Half Marathon.

The male runners would be headlined by Yitayal Atanfu, also from Ethiopia and 2015 Ooredo Half Marathon Champion; Jacob Kendgor, a Kenyan and winner of the 2015 Seoul International Marathon and Amos Mitel from Eritrea, who was the runner-up in the second edition of 2014 Okpekpe Road Race.

Meanwhile, Heritage Bank Limited joined the 10-kilometre Okpekpe Road Race as the official banker.

It will be recalled that Enterprise Bank Limited, which has been acquired by Heritage Bank Limited, was the official banker of the second edition of the race last year.

The Heritage Bank sponsorship of the10-kilometre race is also meant to partner with the Edo State Government and the event organisers, PAMODZI Sports Marketing Limited, in the joint bid to create a platform of support and exposure for Nigerian and African youths to international marathons.